Freshwater Aquarium - Essentials & Accessories

All freshwater aquariums require similar basics – a good tank, a solid stand, quality accessories and maintenance tools. But to determine which kind of what items you need, first consider the aquatic life you want to keep. Freshwater fish come in all shapes and sizes with wide ranging requirements for their living conditions. Betta fish prefer smaller tanks with almost no current while Oscar cichlids need lots of room to grow and can swim in water with low currents. Understanding the needs of the fish you want will make choosing your tank essentials and accessories that much easier.

Aquarium Furniture – tanks & stands

The size of your tank depends on a lot of different factors: how much space do you have, how much weight can you manage (a gallon of water weighs nearly 9 lbs.), and most importantly what kind of aquatic life you want to keep. If your only limiting factor is fish type, remember that most freshwater fish require at least one gallon for every adult inch they are long; some species like goldfish require more. Talk to an aquatic specialist to make sure your tank is large enough to accommodate your fish.

Furniture Type Description  Compact design and footprint  Ideal for a limited number of small fish Desktop tanks  May include built-in filter and/or light

 Small, medium and large tanks available  Larger tanks requires strong stands for support Standard aquariums  Glass or acrylic

 Includes tank and at least one of the following: filter, hood, lamp, start-up conditioner, food Kits  Filtration and lighting may be built into the system  Great for first-time aquarists

 Made with wood, metal or both  Reinforced designs to hold up heavy tanks Stands  May include supply shelves

 Stands designed with closed cabinet and shelves for storage  Discreetly hides food and maintenance equipment Cabinets  Available in a variety of sizes to suit different aquariums Furniture Type Description  Two-piece set for large aquariums Canopy/Cabinet  Cabinet holds supplies or equipment Combo  Canopies frame tank and allow access to waterline

Hoods & Lighting

Lights brighten your tank so you can enjoy your fish throughout the day. If you want a planted tank, you may prefer certain types of lights over others. Some kits include hoods and lamps, but you can always customize your own setup with different light fixtures and bulbs.

Furniture Type Description  Covers tank to prevent fish escapes and evaporation  Often designed to house lights or bulbs Hood  Adjustable designs available

 Most popular aquarium lighting choice  Great for most freshwater aquariums Fluorescent bulb  Come in a wide variety of spectrums  Some versions ideal for planted aquariums

 Ideal for planted aquariums  May produce excess heat Halide bulb  Requires special fixtures for proper use

 Made with wood, metal or both  Reinforced designs to hold up heavy tanks Stands  May include supply shelves

 Typically longest lifespan of aquarium lighting systems  More energy efficient LED lamp  May allow for light color customization

 Inexpensive lighting option  Easily found and replaceable Incandescent  Uses more electricity and produces more heat compared to other bulb bulb types Filters & Media

Filters are key to keeping your tank clean and healthy. Determining the size of your tank and the needs of your fish will help you decide what filter system to get. More powerful filters are great for larger tanks, while smaller tanks or more delicate fish may require a less powerful filter.

Furniture Description Type  External filter system with a variety of mounting and installation options  Powerful pump for large aquariums Canister filter  Three-stage filtration media can be replaced separately

 Standard over-the-edge tank filters  Available in a variety of sizes Power Filters  Replace filter media as needed

 Mechanical filters strain debris, waste, uneaten food, etc.  Biological filters foster healthy bacteria that break down ammonia and Filter Media nitrites  Chemical filters remove toxins that cause odor and water discoloration

Climate Control

Freshwater fish have all different tolerances for water temperature. Some like it tropically warm, and some like it cool. And it's not just a matter of preference – their environment impacts their health and behavior. Learn about the type of fish you want to keep and what their ideal water temperature is. A thermometer and the right equipment can help you keep your fish happy and healthy.

Equipment Description  Helps you monitor water temperature  In-tank or external options available Thermometer  Digital options available

 Helps regulate tank temperature  External and submersible heating options available Heater  Ideal for tropical tanks or cool climates  Adjustable thermostats offer precise temperature control

 Ideal for coldwater tanks or warm climates  Typically used for larger tanks Chiller  Expensive piece of equipment Maintenance & Accessories

Keep your aquarium in ship shape with these tank essentials.

Equipment Description  Oxygenates and circulates water  Create a stream or curtain of bubbles Air pump  Connect powered pumps to air stone with airline tubing and check systems valve to prevent backflow

 Cleans waste and detritus from substrate  Change water while you clean Gravel vacuum  Variety of sizes available to suit your tank

 Cleans algae and other deposits on tank walls  Specially made to not damage tanks Algae pads  Pads available for both glass and acrylic tanks

 Makes moving aquatic life easy  Designed to safely catch aquatic life Net  Various sizes available to suit your aquatic life and tank

 Measures pH, ammonia, nitrate and more  Provides a snapshot of the health of your aquarium Test kits  Scientifically accurate and easy to use

Water Additives

Water right out of the tap isn't ready to go into your tank. Conditioners, de-chlorinators, beneficial bacteria and more help to transform your water into a fish-safe environment.

Additive Description  Helps to control algae blooms Algae removers  Keeps water clean and clear

 Provides tanks with healthy live bacteria  Supports natural processes like waste breakdown and Beneficial bacteria tank cycling

 Neutralizes harmful chlorine from tap water Chlorine & heavy metal  Use when starting tank or preparing for water changes removers

Ammonia & chloramine  Neutralizes harmful ammonia and chloramine from tank Additive Description removers water  Condition water for new tanks or water changes

 Promotes growth in planted aquariums Live plant additives  May include fertilizers and nutrients

 Increases or decreases tank water pH pH conditioners  Ideal for fish that prefer slightly acidic or alkaline water

 Eliminates causes of cloudy water Clarifiers  Conditions tank water

Décor

When all the essentials are in place, it's time to add the bells and whistles. Decorate your tank with ornaments, silk plants, backgrounds and substrate of all colors to create a completely unique look for your aquarium inhabitants.

Décor Type Description  Wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors and designs Resin, rock & driftwood  Can provide hideaways or cover for fish ornaments  Provides interest and enrichment for fish

 Plastic and silk fish-safe plants  Creates a more natural look without the maintenance Artificial Plants requirements of live plants  Wide variety of sizes, shapes and colors

 Adheres to the back wall of tank  Choose from natural or fun scenes Backgrounds  Gives the impression of depth and texture

 Variety of textures, shapes and colors  Provides a surface for beneficial bacteria to colonize Gravel & Substrate  Sand, gravel and artificial substrates available

 An aquarium, to put it simply, is a container that can sustain fish and other aquatic life for a longer period of time.  Acquiring a good aquarium for your fish is not a very difficult job as long as you give it some thought before you actually get it. There are some obvious considerations to be taken into account.  Setting up and fully stocking a good aquarium will take anywhere between a couple of weeks and a month.  The time that you spend with these basic steps will save you a lot of time and trouble at a later stage.

There are several things to consider before you purchase an aquarium. How much time you are willing to spend on the aquarium? What kind of aquarium do you want to buy? What is the ideal spot for your aquarium? What kind of fish should you put in your aquarium? How do you keep your fish and their environment healthy in the easiest and quickest way? How much time would it all take to maintain? What should you feed your fish and how much? What should you do when diseases strike? These are just some of the many questions that you need to think about. A good and well stocked aquarium needs quite a bit of equipment. Here is a simple list of the items that you will need for a basic freshwater aquarium:

1. An aquarium tank 2. An aquarium stand 3. A hood 4. Lighting equipment 5. Air pump 6. Heater 7. Thermometer 8. Filters (internal or external) 9. Gravel 10. Decorations (optional, but interesting if you have these) Maintenance items like scrubber, siphon tube etc.